Sweat equity gives employees who are recognized as growth practitioners for the company an opportunity to reward them by encouraging stock or stock-based cash payments. The sweat equity shares also serve as an effective tool for motivating long-term commitments from granted employees and thus successful companies.

This article provides an overview of sweat equity shares meaning and the types of sweat equity that can be considered.

What is sweat equity?

Sweat Equity is a non-cash investment by the founder of a startup company. It is commonly used by startups and business owners who are underfunded to fund their projects.

The sweat equity shares are shares that the company issues in exchange for work and time, not cash compensation. Sweet shares are basically discounted shares issued by start-ups to employees and managers. Employees or members of the Board of Directors provide added value in exchange for shares.

Worrying about sharing equity is crucial when starting a startup with limited funding. Employees are motivated by participating in equity to create a more equally competitive space than large companies. Employees of a start-up company established as a corporation or stock options are granted and become some of the owners of the company in exchange for accepting salaries that may be lower than their market values. Let’s see the different variants of sweat equity shares offered by companies.

Types of sweat equity

Employee Stock Option Scheme

Under the Share Option Scheme, the company applies for shares in the company at any price during the specified period on certain conditions relating to continued employment or fulfillment of performance conditions. It is determined in advance or according to an agreed formula.

Share Purchase Schemes (ESPS)

Under this scheme, the company will provide employees with the shares allotted to pay the inquiry and on certain insurance terms.

Stock Appreciation Rights or Phantom Equity Plan

Under this scheme, employees are paid to evaluate the share price or value/assumptions from the grant date to the exercise date.

There can be many other types of variants of sweat equity shares  

Benefits of sweat equity

Save money

Many startups are tied to cash and are looking for ways to reduce costs as much as possible. Therefore, offering the sweat equity shares in the form of compensation will help them save money during their growth and increase their profits.

Attracting the best talents and skills

Providing justice to high-value employees who would not otherwise be available will help you attract the best talent and skills for your startup. This is very useful for startups that require high-quality skills, resources, or networks.

Create an incentive

As the value of startups increases, so does the value of the shares, so people who are paid on largely equal terms, in part or in full, are paid to do their best to help the business succeed so that the value of their efforts increases.

How does Sweat Equity work?

Shares in ordinary shares are shares that a company issues to employees or directors at a discount or for non-cash consideration. In other words, it refers to the allocation of shares to employees as compensation for their contributions and efforts (i.e., their “sweat”) of producing intangible assets such as growth and success for the company.

The sweat equity shares help startups attract and retain top employees for their efforts. Let’s say, for example, a company or business owner who has an initial investment of Rs 30,000 in a startup will sell his stake. The company is valued at Rs 10 lakhs and will sell 30% of its stake to angel investors. He leaves them with Rs 700,000 in the company. Sweat Equity, valued at Rs 670,000, is the value of a business with no cash contribution.

In such situations, hard work or the founder’s equality is important to a star, and keeping a tip can yield great results when he is eventually sold to a large company.